Editorial - Backyard beekeepers can coexist with neighbors to help beneficial insects

Published: Sunday, September 8, 2013 at 11:27 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, September 8, 2013 at 11:27 p.m.

Here's the buzz: Honeybees may be tiny, but they have an important job in nature. They fan out to forage for nectar, picking up pollen on their tiny legs all the while and thus helping cross-pollinate plants. They produce scrumptious honey that tastes a little different based on the flowers favored by a particular hive.

But diseases, development and invasive species threaten this population of productive workers. Backyard beekeepers, as well as commercial ones, are part of the solution to saving the helpful insects.

As beneficial as they are, however, most people have some fear of the little stinger on the bees' backside, and bee stings can be dangerous to someone with a severe allergy to bee venom. That's one reason Leland is considering whether to ban or impose some rules on keeping bees in a residential area. Town officials should work toward a balance that helps safeguard the community but that also encourages hobby beekeeping.

The Cape Fear region has a few dozen active beekeepers, and most of them have hives in their yards. Among them is optometrist Michael Goins. Two StarNews photographers have kept bees – the honey was delicious.

The key to coexistence between beekeepers and their neighbors is to be considerate. Goins doesn't visit the hive when his neighbors are having a backyard get-together, for example. No need to stir up unnecessary trouble. And for the most part, he thinks folks will be fine if the beekeeping neighbor encourages them to learn more about the amazing insect. (Additionally, gift jars of honey might help sweeten their disposition.)

The optometrist/backyard apiarist said he even had a neighbor ask what kind of flowers his bees preferred so that she could make sure her garden was attractive to them.

Honeybees generally spread out and may fly miles to find their preferred nectar. They can sting, but then they die.

Without backyard beekeepers, Africanized bees might establish themselves here and mate with native bees before they're noticed. Beekeepers would quickly discover if their hive was invaded by the pretenders. The solution, unfortunately, may involve killing off an entire hive to prevent the invasive species from taking over.

Bees aren't livestock, and they certainly aren't pets, so local governments may wonder exactly how to categorize them. But any rule making should be done in a manner that allows the beekeeper to coexist harmoniously with tremulous neighbors.

We may fear their sting, but we need those pollen-gathering honey producers as much as they need backyard beekeepers.

<p>Here's the buzz: Honeybees may be tiny, but they have an important job in nature. They fan out to forage for nectar, picking up pollen on their tiny legs all the while and thus helping cross-pollinate plants. They produce scrumptious honey that tastes a little different based on the flowers favored by a particular hive.</p><p>But diseases, development and invasive species threaten this population of productive workers. Backyard beekeepers, as well as commercial ones, are part of the solution to saving the helpful insects.</p><p>As beneficial as they are, however, most people have some fear of the little stinger on the bees' backside, and bee stings can be dangerous to someone with a severe allergy to bee venom. That's one reason <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9971"><b>Leland</b></a> is considering whether to ban or impose some rules on keeping bees in a residential area. Town officials should work toward a balance that helps safeguard the community but that also encourages hobby beekeeping.</p><p>The Cape Fear region has a few dozen active beekeepers, and most of them have hives in their yards. Among them is optometrist Michael Goins. Two StarNews photographers have kept bees – the honey was delicious.</p><p>The key to coexistence between beekeepers and their neighbors is to be considerate. Goins doesn't visit the hive when his neighbors are having a backyard get-together, for example. No need to stir up unnecessary trouble. And for the most part, he thinks folks will be fine if the beekeeping neighbor encourages them to learn more about the amazing insect. (Additionally, gift jars of honey might help sweeten their disposition.) </p><p>The optometrist/backyard apiarist said he even had a neighbor ask what kind of flowers his bees preferred so that she could make sure her garden was attractive to them.</p><p>Honeybees generally spread out and may fly miles to find their preferred nectar. They can sting, but then they die.</p><p>Without backyard beekeepers, Africanized bees might establish themselves here and mate with native bees before they're noticed. Beekeepers would quickly discover if their hive was invaded by the pretenders. The solution, unfortunately, may involve killing off an entire hive to prevent the invasive species from taking over.</p><p>Bees aren't livestock, and they certainly aren't pets, so local governments may wonder exactly how to categorize them. But any rule making should be done in a manner that allows the beekeeper to coexist harmoniously with tremulous neighbors.</p><p>We may fear their sting, but we need those pollen-gathering honey producers as much as they need backyard beekeepers.</p>